The miracle did not take place on Saturday October 12 at the La Canéda playground. Faced with undefeated Mérignacais in their Regional 1 championship, and therefore playing two divisions above, the Sarladais stop there. Their performance in the Coupe de France still remains more than honorable: the players from Périgord Noir had previously eliminated two Regional 2 teams in the previous rounds (Nontron/Saint-Pardoux, 1-2, then Jugeals Noailles, 3-0).
But this time, the step was too high. And yet, Sarlat/Marcillac were practically equal until the break. During the first act, the visitors circulated the ball without being really dangerous.
The first banderilla was planted in the 10th minute. On a nice climb, the Mérignac left side Diaz strikes and Blanc, the Sarladais goalkeeper, stands out. A new attempt, this time from El Badraoui with his back to goal, comes up against White again.
A difficult recovery
The Sarladais were dominated in possession against a solid Mérignac team and, yet, in the 37th minute, following good pressing, Lehoux struck and opened the scoring, a little against the run of play. 1-0 for the Périgourdins, who began to hope.
Alas, a few minutes later, Kouhous was brought down in the area. The penalty was transformed by El Badraoui (1-1, 40th). Sarlat/Marcillac returned to the break with this score but, as soon as the restart, on a lost ball, a cross bounced off the crossbar and M’Boup, who followed, gave the Girondins the advantage (1-2, 46th).
The visitors played well, alternating short and long games and not hesitating to use the lanes. On a recovered ball, Messaoudi presented himself alone against Blanc and adjusted him (1-3, 57th). The gap was made, impossible for the Sarladais to come back.
Especially since, on a free kick obtained 20 meters away, Tazouti found Blanc’s top corner for a magnificent goal (1-4, 64th). Sarlat/Marcillac suffered and did not worry Essomba.
Finally, on an off-center ball, the restless Messaoudi achieved his double by cleverly lobbing White (1-5, 77th).
Sarlat/Marcillac (R3) 1 – SA Mérignac (R1) 5
Lieu Sarlat (La Canéda playground). Spectators 450 environ. Arbitrator M. Caron. Half time 1-1.
Buts Lehoux (37th) for Sarlat/Marcillac; El Badraoui (40th), M’Boup (46th), Messaoudi (57th, 77th), Tazouti (64th) for SA Mérignac.
Warnings Vetois (23rd), A. Blanc (56th), Bargues (87th), Sutton (88th) in Sarlat/Marcillac; Charieras (75th) at SA Mérignac.
SARLAT/MARCILLAC G. Blanc – Gouyou, Mezui, A. Blanc, Lahaye, Vetois, Kaba, Tribier, Camara, Lehoux, Couty. Entered into play: Sutton, Bargues, Peyrou, Da Costa Pimentel.
SA MÉRIGNAC Essomba – Roumegoux, Bingol, Dubois, Vindex, Charieras, Feuillet, Diaz, Messaoudi, Kouhous, El Badraoui. Entered: M’Boup, Kentizinger, Dos Reis, Tazouti, Eustache.
The reactions
Camille Durand (Sarlat coach). “We lost to a great team from Mérignac. It’s a shame. Our goal now is the championship. I hope that we will still have given a good image of Sarlat football. »
Jérémy Diaz (captain of Mérignac). “Sarlat held off us for half-time. Then, we managed to put our game in place and spaces opened up. In the Coupe de France, you need character and we had it. »